Outdoor Way of Cross from Brewer to Bangor set for Palm Sunday

Tim Mullen dressed as Jesus, center, and surrounded by Roman soldiers walks to the 5th station of the cross at Indian Trail Park in Brewer, on Sunday, April 1, 2012, where Simon of Cyrene joins him to help him carry the cross. Buy Photo

BANGOR, Maine — A procession that stopped traffic last year will be held again this year on Palm Sunday.

The Way of the Cross Community Procession, presented by St. Paul the Apostle Parish, will begin at 1 p.m. March 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church on North Main Street in Brewer and end about 4 p.m. at St. John Catholic Church on York Street in Bangor.

The procession, intended to be a live Stations of the Cross prayed outdoors, seeks to present an account of the Passion of Jesus Christ that is authentic to the Gospel and to the traditional Way of the Cross prayed in Catholic churches throughout the world, according to a parish press release. The enactors silently present the events of the passion as passages from the Gospels are read to the people in the procession.

The Stations of the Cross is a popular devotion used by individuals or groups who wish, through prayer and reflection, to follow Jesus Christ on his way to Calvary. Many Christians practice the devotion during Lent.

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Enactors are dressed in costumes that communicate the authentic faith and a historical accuracy to the degree possible, the press release said. Those walking behind are solemn and prayerful.

The 2012 procession included more than 100 participants and an estimated 700 spectators. St. Paul the Apostle volunteers organizing the procession hope for even more this year.

“We are so thankful for the outpouring of support and interest we received from parish members last year,” Stephanie Jesiolowski, a volunteer working on the procession, said. “We anticipate more participation this year. And we’d like all Catholics in Maine, all Christians in Maine, to feel invited and welcome to join in the experience this year.”

Parking is available at St. John’s and a shuttle service will transport people to the procession starting point, St. Joseph’s. Soup and bread will be served at the end of the procession.